Page 43 of Marked Dragon

We were all trying to stay in human form so we could use our weapons and get to the vehicle quickly, and it was going fine, until it wasn’t. Are you hurt?he asked, flying toward the waiting vehicle.

I smiled tenderly, and my chest expanded so much it hurt.I’m fine.Just a little banged up but better off than Vlad and Thorn.

He landed softly and placed Vlad on his feet. Cassidy stood by the car and helped Vlad get into the vehicle as I climbed down Thorn’s back and glanced behind.

The two warriors whose dragons Thorn had taken were out cold. The man had landed awkwardly on his knees, making him appear to be in the child’s pose with his naked butt facing us. Unfortunately, I learned a very uncomfortable fact about this stranger—he had a caterpillar butt crack. It was so damn hairy.

“Everly!” Saphira shouted from the SUV.

Thankfully, that yanked my gaze away from the sight I’d never be able to unsee.Thatvision was one I would never put on a canvas.

Cloth hit my face, and I grabbed a pair of large jeans and a shirt.

“I understand he’s not bad looking, but the last thing I want is him butt-naked in the car with us, rubbing all over you after being separated for so long.” She jumped back in the car and climbed into the backseat.

Thank goodness for this. I didn’t want anyone seeing Thorn naked for longer than necessary.

I turned to find him already back in his gorgeous muscular human form, and I drank in the sight, even as I tossed him the clothes. He grabbed them and quickly dressed, connecting,Get into the vehicle.I’m going to grab my phone real quick.

As I stuck my head in the door, I noticed Brenton was already behind the wheel and Errol was in the front passenger seat. Eva was propped against the passenger side window with Saphira in the middle next to her and a teenage boy, who had to be Tyson, was in the seat on the other end. Luckily, the middle row was also a three-seater, but four of us needed a spot.

I bit my lip. I could sit on the floorboards once the others got settled.

Cassidy slid in first and scooted across to the spot behind Errol. Vlad settled into the middle seat. Strong arms wrapped around me as Thorn picked me up like a princess and arranged me on his lap in the final seat. He slammed the door, and Brenton peeled away without missing a beat.

Thorn tightened his arms around me, and I breathed in his scent as the jolt surged between us. The car swerved as Brenton desperately drove away, but as usual, Thorn protected me from any discomfort.

“We’ve got to get to Everly’s family home quickly. Drake will send people there as soon as that yellow dragon tells him we got away,” Thorn said, his chest vibrating against mine.

I purred before I realized what I was doing. Being somewhat safe in his arms was the most comforting thing I’d felt in forever.

He tilted my face toward his and kissed me. The jolt between us sizzled, and my breathing caught as my body flamed. Kissing him was like a drink of water after being stuck in the desert. My dragon roared with his as his tongue brushed my lips.

“You weren’t kidding, Saph,” Tyson said from behind us. “Not even a minute in the car, and they’re making out, while she sounds like a cat.”

And that was enough to remind me we had an audience, two of whom were Thorn’s parents, so I pulled myself away.

“Do I ever exaggerate?” Saphira quipped.

Errol chuckled. “Don’t answer that, anyone. It’s a trap.”

Face burning, I looked behind me and took in Tyson. His skin was a shade darker than Saphira’s, and his eyes were a warm olive. His midnight black hair was cut short, and he was smaller than Thorn and Vlad, but still muscular. His attention was on his cousin, his face filled with adoration.

Saphira had mentioned they were close, and the way he looked at her confirmed it.

Though they were trying to lighten the mood, I couldn’t joke around, not until Elliott and Peter were with us and Eva was awake.

We hit a bump, and Vlad grunted, grimacing in pain.

“Babe…” Cassidy said with concern.

“I’m fine.” Vlad forced a smile. “Just a little beat up. After a good night’s rest, I’ll be better.”

No one responded, the lighthearted atmosphere gone.

Once Brenton had the address, the vehicle descended into silence, and I laid my head against Thorn’s chest, listening to the one noise that trumped the sound of a paintbrush on canvas—his heartbeat.

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